CN115266278A - Automatic tabletting device for microscopical sample preparation - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides an automatic film clamp for microscopical system appearance includes: the supporting body is used for providing a tabletting position for placing the sample assembly; the overturning assembly comprises an overturning plate and a rotary driver, wherein the overturning plate is connected with the supporting main body in a rotating mode around a central axis, the rotary driver is used for driving the overturning plate to rotate, the overturning plate is provided with a first position located on one side of the tabletting position, and the overturning plate positions the sample assembly at the tabletting position when rotating to the first position; and the tabletting assembly comprises a pressing plate and a linear driver for driving the pressing plate to linearly move, the pressing plate is positioned on the other side of the tabletting position, and the linear driver drives the pressing plate to linearly move towards the tabletting position so that the pressing plate can tablet the sample assembly positioned at the tabletting position. This application can carry out automatic preforming and upset operation to micro-sample subassembly, compares with prior art's manual operation, and efficiency is higher, more can adapt to the automation requirement in laboratory.

Description

Automatic tabletting device for microscopical sample preparation

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of microscopic experiments, in particular to an automatic tabletting device for microscopic sample preparation.

Background

In order to better observe single bacteria or cells on a microscope in the process of biological or medical experiments, a microscopic sample needs to be prepared, and the preparation process comprises the following steps: cutting agar into agar blocks with a cutter; dropping the bacteria/cell suspension on an agar block; after the agar surface was allowed to air dry slightly, the side of the agar block on which the suspension was dropped was pressed against a glass cover slip and then placed on an inverted microscope for observation of bacteria or cells. The preparation process of the microscopic sample is usually completed manually, only one microscopic sample can be prepared at a time, the preparation efficiency is low, and the operation is complex.

In order to realize the preparation of a plurality of microscopic samples at one time, the Chinese patent with patent publication No. CN113848103A provides a microscopic sample preparation device and a cell phenotype control device, which comprises a forming plate with a plurality of forming holes, a sample pool plate with a plurality of sample holes, a cover glass and a pressing plate with a plurality of pressing columns, wherein the forming plate is adopted to form a plurality of agar blocks at one time, after the agar blocks are dried in the air, bacteria/cells are dripped on the surface of each agar block, then the pressing operation is carried out, and the pressing operation method comprises the following steps: the cover glass, the sample pool plate, the molding plate with the agar blocks and the pressing plate are sequentially overlapped from bottom to top, then the pressing plate is pressed down by hands until a plurality of agar blocks in a plurality of molding holes of the molding plate are pressed into a plurality of sample holes by a plurality of pressing columns of the pressing plate and pressed on the cover glass, so that a plurality of microscopic samples in contact with the cover glass are obtained, the sample pool plate can be placed on a microscope platform subsequently, and the hanging liquid on the agar blocks is observed through the cover glass. Although the microscopic sample preparation device can prepare a plurality of microscopic samples at one time, the tabletting operation still needs to be completed by manual operation, and the automation and intellectualization requirements of a laboratory cannot be met.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides an automatic tabletting device for micro-sampling to replace manual tabletting operation.

The embodiment of the application provides an automatic film clamp for micro-system appearance, includes: a support body providing a press location for placement of a sample assembly; the overturning assembly comprises an overturning plate and a rotary driver, wherein the overturning plate is connected with the supporting body in a rotating mode around a central axis, the rotary driver is used for driving the overturning plate to rotate, the overturning plate is provided with a first position located on one side of the tablet pressing position, and the overturning plate positions the sample assembly at the tablet pressing position when rotating to the first position; the pressing plate is located on the other side of the pressing position, and the linear driver drives the pressing plate to linearly move towards the pressing position, so that the pressing plate presses the sample assembly located at the pressing position.

In some embodiments, further comprising: a locking member disposed on the support body for releasably locking the roll-over panel in the first position.

In some embodiments, the locking member is a cylinder having a retractable piston rod that locks the roll-over plate in the first position by extending, and releases the lock of the roll-over plate by retracting.

In some embodiments, the flipping plate further has a second position, the second position and the first position are respectively located at two opposite sides of the central axis, and the flipping plate drives the sample assembly, which has passed through the pressing sheet, to rotate from the first position to the second position by rotating around the central axis, so as to flip the sample assembly.

In some embodiments, the flipping assembly further comprises: and the connecting piece is used for releasably connecting the turnover plate with the sample assembly so that the turnover plate can drive the sample assembly to synchronously rotate.

In some embodiments, the sample assembly comprises a magnetic member; the connecting piece is an electromagnet arranged on the turnover plate, the turnover plate and the sample assembly are connected in a magnetic attraction mode when the electromagnet is powered on, and the electromagnet is released to connect the turnover plate and the sample assembly when the electromagnet is powered off.

In some embodiments, the support body includes a first support plate providing the pressing sheet position, and the flip plate is rotatably disposed on the first support plate, and the first support plate provides support for the flip plate in the first position and the second position.

In some embodiments, the support body includes a second support plate located on a side of the first support plate facing away from the flipping plate, the sheeting assembly and the rotational driver are both located between the first support plate and the second support plate, and the linear driver and the rotational driver are both fixed on the second support plate.

In some embodiments, the rotary drive is a motor; the turnover plate is rotatably connected with the supporting main body through a rotating shaft arranged in parallel with the central axis; the turnover assembly further comprises a first synchronous pulley connected with a motor shaft of the motor, a second synchronous pulley connected with the rotating shaft, and a synchronous belt connected with the first synchronous pulley and the second synchronous pulley, wherein the rotary motion of the motor sequentially passes through the first synchronous pulley, the synchronous belt, the second synchronous pulley and the rotating shaft to the turnover plate so as to drive the turnover plate to rotate.

In some embodiments, the pressure plate is detachably provided on the linear driver.

In some embodiments, a height of the platen relative to the linear drive is adjustable.

In some embodiments, the sample assembly has a plurality of sample wells; the pressure plate is provided with a plurality of pressure columns which correspond to the sample holes one by one; the preforming subassembly still including be located the clamp plate with the perforated plate between the preforming position, the perforated plate with support main part detachably connects, the perforated plate have with a plurality of the through-hole of compression leg one-to-one.

In some embodiments, further comprising: and the control system is used for controlling the starting and stopping of the rotary driver and the linear driver.

The beneficial effects of the embodiment of the application include:

1. according to the embodiment of the application, the automatic tabletting operation can be completed by arranging the overturning assembly and the tabletting assembly, and compared with the manual tabletting operation in the prior art, the tabletting efficiency is higher, and the tabletting effect is better;

2. the upset subassembly of this application embodiment can carry out automatic upset to the sample subassembly, compares safe and reliable more with prior art's manual upset operation, reduces each part of upset in-process sample subassembly and takes place the risk of misplacing or droing.

Specific embodiments of the present application are disclosed in detail with reference to the following description and drawings, indicating the manner in which the principles of the application may be employed. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are not so limited in scope. The embodiments of the application include many variations, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the application, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the application and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the application. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the application, and that for a person skilled in the art, other drawings can be derived from them without inventive effort. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1-3 are schematic diagrams of an example of an automated sheeting apparatus for microsampling in accordance with embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a sample assembly placed at a sheeting position of an automated sheeting apparatus for micro-specimen preparation according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an automatic sheeting apparatus for microsampling according to an embodiment of the present application with the flipper plate in a first position and the flipper plate unlocked with the second cylinder;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an automatic sheeting apparatus for microsampling according to an embodiment of the present application with the flipping panel in the first position and a second cylinder locking the flipping panel;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an automated sheeting apparatus for microsampling according to an embodiment of the present application, prior to sheeting;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an automated sheeting apparatus for microsampling according to an embodiment of the present application, after sheeting is complete;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present application with the roll-over panel in a second position;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an example of an automated sheeting apparatus for microsampling in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a support body in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the internal structure of the support body in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a flipping panel in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a first rotating shaft in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a sheeting assembly in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic view of a first support plate in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a second support plate in an embodiment of the present application;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are schematic views of a sample assembly in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a height adjustable platen in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 21 is a block diagram of the control system in the embodiment of the present application.

10. A support body;

101. a sheet pressing position; 102. a first support plate; 103. an inner space; 104. a limiting bulge;

105. avoiding the mouth; 106. a second support plate; 107. a side plate; 108. a limiting groove; 109. a third support plate;

110. a power interface; 111. a communication interface; 112. an air inlet; 113. an air outlet;

20. turning over the assembly;

201. a turnover plate; 202. a motor; 203. a first position; 204. a protruding block;

205. a second position; 206. an electromagnet; 207. an avoidance groove; 208. a first timing pulley;

209. a second timing pulley; 210. a synchronous belt; 211. a first rotating shaft; 212. a second rotating shaft;

213. a protective shell;

30. a tabletting assembly;

301. pressing a plate; 302. a first cylinder; 303. pressing the column; 304. a tray; 305. accommodating grooves;

306. a perforated plate; 307. a through hole; 308. a set screw;

40. a second cylinder; 401. a piston rod;

50. a control system;

500. an upper computer; 501. a controller; 502. a first solenoid valve; 503. a sensor;

504. a second solenoid valve; 505. a relay;

60. a sample assembly;

601. forming a plate; 602. a sample cell plate; 603. a cover glass; 605. pressing a ring; 606. and (4) agar blocks.

Detailed Description

The foregoing and other features of the present application will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the description and drawings, particular embodiments of the application are disclosed in detail as being indicative of some of the embodiments in which the principles of the application may be employed, it being understood that the application is not limited to the described embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover all modifications, variations, and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", and the like are used for distinguishing different elements from each other, but do not denote a spatial arrangement, a temporal order, or the like of the elements, and the elements should not be limited by the terms. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, refer to the presence of stated features, elements, components, and do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and elements.

In the embodiments of the present application, the singular forms "a", "an", and the like may include the plural forms and should be interpreted broadly as "a" or "an" and not limited to the meaning of "a" or "an"; furthermore, the term "comprising" should be understood to include both the singular and the plural, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; further, the term "plurality" means two or more unless otherwise specified.

Embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The embodiment of the application provides an automatic film clamp for micro-system appearance.

Fig. 1 to 3 are schematic views of an example of an automatic tabletting apparatus for microsampling according to an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the automatic tablet press apparatus for micro-sampling according to the embodiment of the present application is used to replace a manual tablet press operation, thereby realizing an automatic tablet press operation. The automatic sheeting apparatus includes a support body 10, an inversion assembly 20, and a sheeting assembly 30.

The support body 10 provides a press station 101 for placing the sample assembly 60. As shown in fig. 18 and 19, the sample assembly 60 includes a molding plate 601 with a solid culture medium (e.g., agar blocks), a sample cell plate 602, and a cover glass 603, which are stacked in this order from bottom to top, and a bacteria/cell suspension is dripped onto the surface of each agar block facing the cover glass 603. The sample assembly 60 can be prepared by a microsample preparation device provided in the Chinese invention patent with the patent publication number of CN113848103A, and can be prepared by other prior art. The sample assembly 60 can be manually placed at the sheeting position 101, or can be gripped and placed at the sheeting position 101 by a clamping jaw of a robotic arm of a pipetting station in a laboratory, and the latter can be adopted to meet the automation requirements of the laboratory.

The flipping module 20 includes a flipping board 201 rotatably connected to the supporting body 10 around a central axis, and a rotation driver for driving the flipping board 201 to rotate, for example, the rotation driver is a motor, the flipping board 201 has a first position 203 (shown in fig. 5) located at one side of the pressing position 101, and the flipping board 201 positions the sample module 60 at the pressing position 101 when rotating to the first position 203, so as to fix the sample module 60 at the pressing position 101 for facilitating a subsequent pressing operation. Prior to placement of the sample assembly 60 at the lamination station 101 (as shown in fig. 2), the flipping plate 201 may not be in the first position 203 so as not to obscure the lamination station 101 from interfering with placement of the sample assembly 60. After the sample assembly 60 is placed at the pressing position 101 (shown in fig. 4), the rotation driver drives the flipping plate 201 to rotate to the first position 203 (shown in fig. 5) to cover the sample assembly 60 and position the sample assembly 60.

As shown in fig. 3 and 15, the sheeting assembly 30 includes a platen 301 and a linear driver for driving the platen 301 to move linearly, the linear driver may be a pneumatic cylinder (referred to as a first pneumatic cylinder 302), the platen 301 is located at the other side of the sheeting position 101, that is, the platen 301 and the first position 203 are respectively located at two opposite sides of the sheeting position 101, in other words, the platen 301 and the flipping plate 201 at the first position 203 are respectively located at two opposite sides of the sample assembly 60. In the example of fig. 5, the platen 301 is positioned below the sample assembly 60 and the flipping plate 201 in the first position 203 is positioned above the sample assembly 60. The linear drive causes the platen 301 to tablet the sample assembly 60 positioned at the tablet position 101 by driving the platen 301 to move linearly towards the tablet position 101.

Specifically, for example, as shown in fig. 15, the pressing plate 301 has a plurality of pressing pillars 303, when the sample assembly 60 is placed at the pressing position 101, the plurality of pressing pillars 303, the plurality of molding holes of the molding plate 601, and the plurality of sample holes of the sample cell plate 602 are in one-to-one correspondence, when the linear driver drives the pressing plate 301 to linearly move towards the pressing position 101, the plurality of pressing pillars 303 of the pressing plate 301 press the agar blocks 606 in the plurality of molding holes of the molding plate 601 into the plurality of sample holes of the sample cell plate 602 (as shown in fig. 7 and 8) until the surfaces of the plurality of agar blocks 606 with bacteria or cells are tightly attached to the cover glass 603, and the linear driver stops moving, thereby completing the automatic pressing operation.

In some embodiments, the automated tabletting apparatus further comprises a retaining member, such as the second cylinder 40 shown in fig. 1, disposed on the support body 10, which may be disposed adjacent to the tabletting site 101, for releasably retaining the flipping plate 201 in the first position 203, i.e., when the flipping plate 201 is flipped to the first position 203, the retaining member retains the flipping plate 201 (as shown in fig. 6), thereby positioning the flipping plate 201 in the first position 203, and thereby positioning the flipping plate 201 with the sample assembly 60; after the sheeting operation is complete, the locking member unlocks the flip plate 201 (as shown in FIG. 7) for subsequent manipulation of the sample assembly 60.

In one possible technical solution, as shown in fig. 6 and 9, the locking member is a cylinder (referred to as a second cylinder 40), the second cylinder 40 has a telescopic piston rod 401, and the piston rod 401 is extended to lock the flipping board 201 at the first position 203 to limit the rotation of the flipping board 201; the piston rod 401 releases the lock of the flipping plate 201 by the retraction to make the flipping plate 201 rotatable.

Alternatively, the second cylinder 40 is a needle cylinder, for example a single acting needle cylinder. The needle-shaped air cylinder is arranged on the outer side of the tablet pressing position 101 and is parallel to the plane of the tablet pressing position 101; the lateral edge of the turnover plate 201 is provided with a protruding block 204 which extends outwards, when the turnover plate 201 is turned to the first position 203, the protruding block 204 is opposite to a piston rod 401 of the needle-shaped cylinder, and at the moment, the piston rod 401 extends out to press the protruding block 204 (as shown in fig. 6), so that the turnover plate 201 is locked; after the sheet pressing operation is completed, the piston rod 401 is retracted to release the projection 204 (shown in fig. 7), thereby unlocking the flip plate 201. For example, the number of needle cylinders is two, and accordingly, the number of the projection blocks 204 is also two.

When the sheeting operation is complete, the cover glass 603 of the sample assembly 60 is positioned above the sample cell plate 602, and the sample assembly 60 is inverted so that the cover glass 603 is positioned below the sample cell plate 602 in order to facilitate the observation of bacteria or cells on the surface of the agar block 606 in an inverted microscope. However, the prior art manually flips the sample assembly 60, which is inconvenient, and in order to automatically flip the sample assembly 60, in some embodiments, the flipping assembly 20 is further configured to flip the sample assembly 60.

Specifically, the turning plate 201 further has a second position 205 (as shown in fig. 9), the second position 205 and the first position 203 are respectively located at two opposite sides of the central axis, the turning plate 201 rotates around the central axis to drive the sample assembly 60 to rotate (i.e., turn) from the first position 203 to the second position 205, that is, when the turning plate 201 turns from the first position 203 to the second position 205, the sample assembly 60 is also turned over, and the cover glass 603 of the turned sample assembly 60 is located below the sample cell plate 602, so that the sample assembly 60 is automatically turned over. In one possible solution, as shown in fig. 6 and 9, the first position 203 and the second position 205 are located on the same plane, so that the flipping panel 201 is flipped 180 ° from the first position 203 to the second position 205.

In some embodiments, the inversion assembly 20 further comprises a connector for releasably connecting the inversion plate 201 to the sample assembly 60 such that the inversion plate 201 can drive the sample assembly 60 to rotate synchronously (i.e., to invert synchronously).

In a feasible technical solution, the sample assembly 60 includes a magnetic member, and the connecting member is an electromagnet 206 disposed on the flipping board 201, as shown in fig. 2 and 5, when the electromagnet 206 is powered on, the flipping board 201 and the sample assembly 60 are connected in a magnetic attraction manner, so that the sample assembly 60 can be flipped synchronously with the flipping board 201; electromagnet 206, when de-energized, releases the connection to inversion plate 201 and sample assembly 60 to facilitate removal of the inverted sample assembly 60. Wherein, the sample subassembly 60 after the upset can be taken away through the manual work mode, also can press from both sides by the clamping jaw of the arm of the laboratory liquid moving workstation and get and place the microscope platform on, adopt the latter to more adapt to the automation requirement in laboratory.

Specifically, for example, magnets are disposed on at least two opposite side edges of the forming plate 601, magnets are disposed on at least two opposite side edges of the sample cell plate 602, a press ring 605 is disposed on a side of the cover glass 603 facing away from the sample cell plate 602, and the press ring 605 is made of a metal material capable of being attracted by the magnets, so that the forming plate 601, the sample cell plate 602, the cover glass 603, and the press ring 605 are fixed together under a magnetic attraction force to form an integral member, when the electromagnet 206 is energized, the integral member and the flip plate 201 are fixed together under the magnetic attraction force, and when the electromagnet 206 is de-energized, the integral member and the flip plate 201 are separated.

By adopting the scheme of the embodiment, the connection and disconnection of the turnover plate 201 and the sample assembly 60 can be realized by electrifying and powering off, and the automatic control is convenient.

Optionally, the electromagnet 206 is disposed on the side of the flipping board 201 opposite to the tablet position 101. As shown in fig. 5 and 6, for example, the number of the electromagnets 206 is four, four electromagnets 206 are respectively disposed at four corners of the side surface of the electromagnets 206, each electromagnet 206 can be respectively fixed on the side surface of the flipping board 201 by a fixing frame, and the electromagnets 206 and the fixing frame, and the fixing frame and the flipping board 201 can be detachably connected by screws.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 13, the flipping plate 201 is substantially rectangular, and an avoiding groove 207 is respectively disposed at four edges of the flipping plate 201, so that the clamping jaws of the robot arm can clamp the sample assembly 60 from the avoiding groove 207.

In one possible embodiment, as shown in fig. 12, the supporting body 10 includes a first supporting plate 102, the first supporting plate 102 may be a top plate of the supporting body 10, the first supporting plate 102 provides the tablet pressing position 101, the flip plate 201 is rotatably disposed on the first supporting plate 102, and the first supporting plate 102 provides a support for the flip plate 201 at a first position 203 and a second position 205.

As shown in fig. 1 and 16, the first support plate 102 is rotatably connected to the middle of the flip plate 201, and the right side portion of the first support plate 102 is used for providing the tablet pressing position 101, which may be a square frame having an inner space 103, the square frame is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions 104 arranged around the inner space 103 at intervals, the inner sides of the limiting protrusions 104 are used for placing the tablet pressing positions 101 of the sample assembly 60, and the limiting protrusions 104 are used for limiting the sample assembly 60 at the tablet pressing positions 101 from the outer periphery of the sample assembly 60. The left portion of the first support plate 102 is used for supporting the flip plate 201 when the flip plate 201 is flipped to the second position 205, and the left portion is provided with an avoiding opening 105 corresponding to each electromagnet 206, so that each electromagnet 206 falls into the avoiding opening 105 when the flip plate 201 is flipped to the second position 205, so that the flip plate 201 and the left portion are in a mutually parallel stacked state, and a stable support is provided for the sample assembly 60.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 12 and 17, the support body 10 includes a second support plate 106, the second support plate 106 is located on a side of the first support plate 102 facing away from the flip plate 201, the sheeting assembly 30 and the rotary driver are both located between the first support plate 102 and the second support plate 106, and the linear driver and the rotary driver are both fixed to the second support plate 106.

In the example of fig. 12, the second support plate 106 is positioned below the first support plate 102, and the sheeting assembly 30 and the rotational drive can be positioned in the space between the first support plate 102 and the second support plate 106. For example, the linear actuator may be fixed to the second support plate 106 by screws, the rotary actuator may be fixed to the second support plate 106 by a mount, and the rotary actuator and the mount, and the mount and the second support plate 106 may be detachably coupled by screws.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 10 and 21, the rotation driver is a motor 202, and the flipping board 201 is rotatably connected with the first supporting board 102 of the supporting body 10 through a rotating shaft arranged parallel to the central axis; the turnover assembly 20 further comprises a first synchronous pulley 208 connected with a motor shaft of the motor 202, a second synchronous pulley 209 connected with a rotating shaft, and a synchronous belt 210 connecting the first synchronous pulley 208 and the second synchronous pulley 209, wherein the rotation motion of the motor 202 is transmitted to the turnover plate 201 through the first synchronous pulley 208, the synchronous belt 210, the second synchronous pulley 209 and the rotating shaft in sequence so as to drive the turnover plate 201 to rotate.

For example, the flipping panel 201 is connected to the first support plate 102 through two rotating shafts, as shown in fig. 13 and 14, the two rotating shafts are a first rotating shaft 211 and a second rotating shaft 212, respectively, one end of the first rotating shaft 211 is connected to the second synchronous pulley 209, and the other end of the first rotating shaft 211 may be a square column, which is matched with a square hole of the flipping panel 201 to transmit the rotation torque to the flipping panel 201; the second shaft 212 may be a cylindrical shaft.

In the example of fig. 10 and 11, the support body 10 may include four side plates provided at outer circumferential sides of the first and second support plates 102 and 106, a motor shaft of the motor 202 passes through the corresponding side plate 107 to be connected to a first timing pulley 208 outside the side plate 107, and a second timing pulley 209 and a timing belt 210 are located outside the side plate 107.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 9, the outer sides of the first synchronous pulley 208, the second synchronous pulley 209 and the synchronous belt 210 may be sleeved with a protective shell 213. Of course, in other embodiments, the protective shell 213 (as shown in fig. 10) may not be provided.

In some embodiments, the platen 301 may be detachably mounted to the linear drive to facilitate removal of the platen 301 for cleaning and sterilization to avoid contamination of the solid media in the sample assembly 60.

In one possible embodiment, as shown in fig. 15, the platen 301 is detachably mounted to the linear actuator via a tray 304. Specifically, the tray 304 is fixed to the linear drive, and the tray 304 is provided with a receiving groove 305 for receiving the pressing plate 301, so that the pressing plate 301 can be placed in the receiving groove 305 or taken out from the receiving groove 305. For example, the pressure plate 301 and the receiving groove 305 are a clearance fit.

In some embodiments, the height of the platen 301 relative to the linear drive is adjustable to facilitate adjusting the amount of compression of the agar block by the platen 301. For example, if the linear actuator reaches the maximum stroke, the agar block is still not compressed, or the agar block is still not tightly attached to the cover glass, the height of the pressing plate 301 relative to the linear actuator can be increased to increase the compression amount of the pressing plate 301 on the agar block, so that the agar block is tightly attached to the cover glass 603, and a better tabletting effect is ensured.

In one possible solution, as shown in fig. 20, a plurality of screw holes penetrating through the pressure plate 301 are provided on the pressure plate 301, each screw hole is provided with a set screw 308, the bottom of the set screw 308 contacts with the bottom surface of the tray 304, and the height of the pressure plate 301 relative to the linear actuator is adjusted by adjusting the length of the set screw 308 extending out of the bottom surface of the pressure plate 301.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, the sheeting assembly 30 further comprises a multi-well plate 306 positioned between the platen 301 and the sheeting position 101, the multi-well plate 306 supporting the sample assembly 60 from the bottom of the sample assembly 60 when the sample assembly 60 is placed in the sheeting position 101; the porous plate 306 is detachably coupled to the support body 10, and the porous plate 306 has a plurality of through-holes 307 corresponding to the plurality of press pillars 303 one to one, so that the plurality of press pillars 303 of the press plate 301 protrude into the molding holes of the molding plate 601 through the plurality of through-holes 307 by the driving of the linear driver.

For example, if the diameter of the molding hole of the molding plate 601 is d1, the diameter of the sample hole of the cuvette plate 602 is d2, the diameter of the through hole 307 of the multi-well plate 306 is d3, and the diameter of the pressing column 303 of the pressing plate 301 is d4, d2> d1= d3> d4.

In the example of fig. 3 and 16, in the right side portion of the first support plate 102, the inner periphery of the right side portion adjacent to the inner space 103 is recessed to form a limiting groove 108, the limiting groove 108 is matched with the porous plate 306, for example, the limiting groove 108 is a square groove, and the limiting groove 108 is used for accommodating and positioning the porous plate 306. When it is necessary to take out the pressing plate 301, the porous plate 306 is taken out from the stopper groove 108, and then the pressing plate 301 is taken out from the storage groove 305.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 21, the automatic sheeting apparatus further includes a control system 50, the control system 50 being configured to control the starting and stopping of the rotary drive and the linear drive.

In one possible solution, as shown in fig. 21, the rotary actuator is a motor 202, the linear actuator is a first cylinder 302, the locking member is a second cylinder 40, and the connecting member is an electromagnet 206; the control system 50 comprises an upper computer 500 and a controller 501, the upper computer 500 can directly control the starting and stopping of the motor 202, and the upper computer 500 can control the starting and stopping of the first air cylinder 302 and the second air cylinder 40 and the power on and off of the electromagnet 206 through the controller 501. Thereby enabling automatic control of the motor 202, the first cylinder 302, the second cylinder 40, and the electromagnet 206 by the control system 50. For the motor 202, the upper computer 500 may also control the start and stop of the motor 202 through the controller 501, and is also within the protection scope of the present application. The upper computer 500 may be a computer.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 21, the control system 50 further includes a first solenoid valve 502 and a second solenoid valve 504 for controlling the air path, and the controller 501 is connected to the first air cylinder 302 through the first solenoid valve 502 to control the telescopic movement of the first air cylinder 302 through the first solenoid valve 502; the controller 501 is connected to the second cylinders 40 through second solenoid valves 504 to control the telescopic movement of the two second cylinders 40 through the second solenoid valves 504. For example, the number of the first solenoid valves 502 is one, and the number of the second solenoid valves 504 is two to be connected to two second cylinders 40, respectively.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 21, the control system 50 further includes a relay 505 (e.g., a serial relay), the controller 501 is electrically connected to the electromagnet 206 through the relay 505, and the controller 501 controls the relay 505 under the control of the upper computer 500, so as to control the energization and the de-energization of the electromagnet 206.

In a possible solution, as shown in fig. 21, the control system 50 further includes two sensors 503 disposed on the first cylinder 302, wherein one of the sensors 503 is used for measuring whether the telescopic rod of the first cylinder 302 reaches a predetermined extended position, and the other sensor 503 is used for measuring whether the telescopic rod of the first cylinder 302 reaches a predetermined retracted position, so as to detect the stroke of the first cylinder 302. The two sensors 503 are respectively in communication connection with the controller 501, the two sensors 503 send the stroke of the first air cylinder 302 to the controller 501, the controller 501 sends the stroke of the first air cylinder 302 to the upper computer, the upper computer judges whether the sheet pressing operation is completed according to the stroke, if the sheet pressing operation is judged to be completed, the electromagnet 206 is electrified through the controller 501, and then the motor 202 is started to turn over the turnover plate 201.

For example, sensor 503 is a magnetic proximity switch, and sensor 503 may be mounted in a mounting groove on the outer wall of first cylinder 302.

The present embodiment provides for automatic control of the rotary drive member, linear drive member, locking member and electromagnet 206 by providing a control system 50.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 12, the support body 10 further includes a third support plate 109, the third support plate 109 is disposed below the second support plate 106, and the relay 505 and the first and second solenoid valves 502 and 504 may be disposed in a space between the third support plate 109 and the second support plate 106 and supported by the third support plate 109.

As shown in fig. 12, the first support plate 102, the second support plate 106 and the third support plate 109 are arranged at an interval from top to bottom, the three plates can be connected through a hexagonal pillar to form a three-layer frame, the four side plates of the support main body 10 surround the first support plate 102, the second support plate 106 and the third support plate 109 are arranged, the four side plates, the first support plate 102 and the third support plate 109 jointly form a square casing of the support main body 10, the second support plate 106 divides the inside of the square casing into an upper space and a lower space, the upper space is used for placing the tablet pressing assembly 30 and the motor 202, the lower space is used for placing the relay 505 and the three solenoid valves, one of the side plates 107 is provided with the power source 110, the communication port 111, the air inlet 112 connected with the three solenoid valves, and the air outlet 113 connected with the three solenoid valves.

The tabletting process of the automatic tabletting device for micro-sampling provided by the embodiment of the application can comprise the following steps of:

(1) The mechanical arm clamping jaw of the pipetting workstation picks up the prefabricated sample assembly 60 and places the prefabricated sample assembly 60 into the tabletting position 101 of the automatic tabletting device, at the moment, the forming plate 601, the sample cell plate 602 and the cover glass 603 of the sample assembly 60 are sequentially superposed from bottom to top, the turnover plate 201 can be in a second position,

(2) The motor 202 drives the turnover plate 201 to turn over from the second position to the first position so as to cover the sample assembly 60;

(3) The piston rod 401 of the second cylinder 40 is extended to press the convex block 204 of the turnover plate 201, so that the turnover plate 201 is locked, and the sample assembly 60 is positioned at the pressing position 101;

(4) The telescopic rod of the first air cylinder 302 extends and drives the pressing plate 301 to linearly move towards the pressing position 101, so that the pressing plate 301 presses the agar blocks in the plurality of molding holes of the molding plate 601 into the plurality of sample holes of the sample cell plate 602 until the surfaces of the plurality of agar blocks with bacteria or cells are tightly attached to the cover glass 603;

(5) The telescopic rod of the first air cylinder 302 retracts, and the pressing plate 301 descends along with the retraction;

(6) The piston rod 401 of the second cylinder 40 retracts to release the lock of the flipping panel 201;

(7) The electromagnet 206 is electrified to connect the turnover plate 201 and the sample assembly 60 in a magnetic attraction manner;

(8) The motor 202 drives the turnover plate 201 to drive the sample assembly 60 to turn over from the first position to the second position, so as to turn over the sample assembly 60, and at this time, the sample assembly 60 is in a state that the cover glass 603, the sample cell plate 602 and the forming plate 601 are sequentially overlapped from bottom to top;

(9) The robotic arm gripper of the pipetting station grips the sample assembly 60 from the second location and places the sample assembly 60 onto the microscope platform for subsequent microscopic observation of the sample assembly 60 through the microscope.

Preferred embodiments of the present application are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. The many features and advantages of the embodiments are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope thereof. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the embodiments of the present application to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope thereof.

Claims (13)

1. An automatic tabletting apparatus for microsampling comprising:

a support body providing a press location for placement of a sample assembly;

the turnover assembly comprises a turnover plate and a rotary driver, the turnover plate is connected with the support main body in a manner of rotating around a central axis, the rotary driver is used for driving the turnover plate to rotate, the turnover plate is provided with a first position located on one side of the tablet pressing position, and the turnover plate positions the sample assembly at the tablet pressing position when rotating to the first position;

the pressing plate is located on the other side of the pressing position, and the linear driver drives the pressing plate to linearly move towards the pressing position, so that the pressing plate presses the sample assembly located at the pressing position.

2. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking member disposed on the support body for releasably locking the roll-over panel in the first position.

3. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 2,

the locking member is an air cylinder, the air cylinder is provided with a telescopic piston rod, the piston rod locks the turnover plate at the first position through stretching out, and the piston rod releases the locking of the turnover plate through retraction.

4. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 1,

the turnover plate is also provided with a second position, the second position and the first position are respectively positioned at two opposite sides of the central axis, and the turnover plate drives the sample assembly which passes through the pressing sheet to rotate from the first position to the second position by rotating around the central axis so as to realize the turnover of the sample assembly.

5. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the turnover assembly further comprises:

and the connecting piece is used for releasably connecting the turnover plate with the sample assembly so that the turnover plate can drive the sample assembly to synchronously rotate.

6. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 5,

the sample assembly comprises a magnetic member;

the connecting piece is an electromagnet arranged on the turnover plate, the turnover plate and the sample assembly are connected in a magnetic attraction mode when the electromagnet is powered on, and the electromagnet is released to connect the turnover plate and the sample assembly when the electromagnet is powered off.

7. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support body comprises:

the first supporting plate is provided with the pressing piece position, the turnover plate is rotatably arranged on the first supporting plate, and the first supporting plate is located at the first position and the second position and provides support for the turnover plate.

8. The automated sheeting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the support body comprises:

the second supporting plate is positioned on one side, back to the turnover plate, of the first supporting plate, the pressing sheet assembly and the rotary driver are both positioned between the first supporting plate and the second supporting plate, and the linear driver and the rotary driver are both fixed on the second supporting plate.

9. The automatic sheeting apparatus of any one of claims 1 through 8,

the rotary driver is a motor;

the turnover plate is rotatably connected with the supporting main body through a rotating shaft arranged in parallel with the central axis;

the turnover assembly further comprises a first synchronous pulley connected with a motor shaft of the motor, a second synchronous pulley connected with the rotating shaft, and a synchronous belt connected with the first synchronous pulley and the second synchronous pulley, wherein the rotary motion of the motor sequentially passes through the first synchronous pulley, the synchronous belt, the second synchronous pulley and the rotating shaft to the turnover plate so as to drive the turnover plate to rotate.

10. The automated sheeting apparatus of any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein the platen is detachably mounted to the linear drive.

11. The automated sheeting apparatus of any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein the platen is adjustable in height relative to the linear drive.

12. The automatic sheeting apparatus of any one of claims 1 through 8,

the sample assembly has a plurality of sample wells; the pressure plate is provided with a plurality of pressure columns which correspond to the sample holes one by one;

the preforming subassembly still including be located the clamp plate with the perforated plate between the preforming position, the perforated plate with support main part detachably connects, the perforated plate have with a plurality of the through-hole of compression leg one-to-one.

13. The automated sheeting apparatus of any one of claims 1 through 8, further comprising:

and the control system is used for controlling the starting and stopping of the rotary driver and the linear driver.

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